Like I said in the other post we have all been wanting this for years..... It's a perfect storm

Now you are really going to see ticket sales explode. Going to be at least $1.5 billion by drawing.

I think the only words to describe this would be HOLY CRAP!

It only took odds of 1 in 292M to make it.

I had 2 tickets in this draw, any more than that and would have felt foolish.

Well, I will raise the limit to 10 for the next draw. And I am very confident that there will be one or more winners.

What were the odds of being no winner tonight? does anyone know?

I wonder what they're going to do on the billboards because they only have three digits, for the millions.... Lol

Wow...just Wow...Can't believe it.

about 20%

Wow so all those sales and not all combinations were covered. Shows you how absurd the odds to win are.

yup about $900M in sales as well the next few days will be absolutely insane

Have mercy, that's a lotta money!

LOL, Lottery Post was not built to handle jackpots greater than $1 billion.  It's showing up as $1300 million.  Guess I have some work to do! 

 Thats a LOT a dough, OMG!!!!

SENSATIONAL

Thanks Todd

UNBELIEVABLE! How can that be? Wow! I'm speechless

Your doing a great job. I so enjoyed while all the other sites were down I was able to check my numbers on your site.

I saw that and I thought that was such a fun new way to think about it.. 1300 million.. I kinda like it

Just curious but how do you figure that about 20% of the combinations were not played. I remember someone on here awhile back explaining something about how to figure it but cant recall the details.

This will be an amazing week of media hype. I look forward to all the crazy stories going up this week. Todd needs to get invited on CNN.

I can't even imagine a billion dollars!

If i wasn't hammered I'd run up to the mobil to see what the sign says.

Neither are all the California electronic jackpot advertisement boards, only has three digits...  :)

I figure it would roll, I matched 2 numbers lol. I am just glad it rolled since I lost as everyone would have been very disappointed if it got that close and did not reach a billion or over and now it has! Bring it baby!    

so according to the texas lottery spreadsheet about 75% of combos were sold at a jackpot of 914M - extrapolated it a bit for one of 950M

http://www.txlottery.org/export/sites/lottery/Documents/jackpotestimates/pb20160109.pdf

You just did. Now try your best to win some of it. Good luck to you.

Whoppie  the states R going to make Mo money

Holy moly that is a lot of money!

I cannot believe it, this must be a dream.

texas's website shows 1.30 billion now

I wanna be a billionaire so frickin' bad

Here come the billion jackpot that everyone waiting for :)

Have fun everyone !!! 

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. They finally made history. Now I can sleep soundly Good night and good luck to all.

There are 4 full days before the next drawing.  Expect this to jump up by at least 500 million before then.  This previous drawing went from 675 to 956 million in a 3 day period.  This is gonna be the biggest news story for the next 4 days!!!!

think there will probably be about $1.3B in sales which should bring the jackpot to $1.6B for the draw

Yes, something like that.

Likewise.

Yeah Todd, that $1300 million looks a little strange.

There's a passage in the Bible about 'two hundred thousand thousand' (200,000,000), it made me think of that.

I simply can't comprehend the prize.

Will I be expected to wear all white robes and the turban?

So this will make the a sole winner (technically) on the FORBES BILLIONAIRES LIST?

OH MY GOODNESS!!wow!! It's about to get craazy!!

HAHA

Not even close. Even a billion liquid or in assets or a combination won't get you on the list I believe. 

HOLY COW

HAHAHA

7-11s will look like Walmarts on Black Friday

I hope there are many winners...and we hear about how it turned things around for many people!

Wow this is truly unbelievable, that is a lot of money. I surely thought that somebody was going to win tonight's drawing. I guess new players are going to come out to play.

this is really stupid because no matter who wins the next jackpot, we now know that same thing can happen again. another long run to a big jackpot that takes peoples money just to make a few millionaires (or one single billionaire)..what is really the purpose of this isht... to make money for the lottery and the states that allow it...median individual income in us is $24,000..median household is $52,000..just dangle a billion dollar carrot jackpot and suckers will buy it at $2 a ticket. there is a sucker born every minute.

New players will see that 1.3 billion jackpot and be like:

Dunno about you others but I like being a sucker......Ideally a very, very wealthy sucker.

Lol, yup, this will be the talk of the country for the next week and when people see $1.3 billion dollar jackpot on billboards while driving, talking about it on social media, at work, or wherever, they will want to play for that chance to win.

One Ticket

One Winner

Awesome stuff. Powerball's at $1.3 Billion! You'll be up there with Bill Gates's net worth if you win this.

Bill Gates is worth anywhere from $80 billion to $100 billion, you won't be anywhere remotely near him even if you win this. 

Enough Already! This is getting ridiculous!

Funny also how back when the MM got up to $656 million after they changed it they said Powerball sales slumped, and then they changed PB to make it harder and look at it now lol. Also funny how people disregard "smaller amounts" that are still huge amounts and life changing. But most of society is financially illiterate and have no clue just how much money millions or billions is. Then you get some new players who buys a ticket on a whim and wins it all who is not even prepared at all. The lottery plays no favorites.

I got the 13,16 57.

And 19 in a separate ticket.

Worth a few bucks for the next draw.

The seemingly impossible has finally occurred, the $1 Billion annuity jackpot. It's exciting for players and a huge windfall for the participating lotteries...

Hopefully, jurisdictions that heavily rely on lottery proceeds make the best of it, since the bar has been dramatically raised for what will bring players out in droves in the future. Was a time when $10 million was a big deal, then $50 million, then $100 million (PA Super 7 build-up was a huge deal back in the day; 1989), etc. Now it will be to the point that many people won't even bother playing unless the jackpot is at least 1/2 billion ($500 million) plus.

And to think there's a possibility of another rollover. While it's easy to assume this will be a sure sell out, there's only so much money people are willing to wager. Limits on lottery infrastructure; try to buy a million tickets at your local retailer - likely not happening. To cover all combinations will take nearly $600 million in gross sales minimum, though due to dupes, will still leave a decent chunk of combinations open...

Bottom line, a rollover is plausible with $2 billion being advertised for next Saturday. Incredible!

Good luck to all who play. I may sit this one out, or at most play 5 tickets. Not playing seems crazy, but to win the jackpot could be worse. Not a widely shared sentiment, but have to assume there are others who have similar thoughts. On the other hand, the lure of being part of history and dreams of being a billionaire (even if for a brief time before taxes are taken out) is overly compelling.

Had 1 right :-(

Here is a chart of the Powerball jackpots since September 2015.

Jackpot be like "n*gga when we rollin', rollin', rollin" Lol.

Greetings ....

Given this latest development, I'd rather see the annuitized jackpot frozen at $ 900 million and let the excess be spread over the lower prizes. Of course, there are those who would not even dare think of touching that idea.

Even so, how would you feel if the 2nd prize was worth at least say $ 5,000,000. We'll imagine that at draw time its worth is $ 6,840,000. Assume your ticket is not shared with anybody, so you have the choice of a $ 4,240,800 cash option payout -OR- a fixed 30-year annuity that pays $ 228,000 annually. Tax considerations would naturally make choosing the 30-year annuity option the right call.

If you're really smart, not only would you take the 30-year annuity option, but you would be careful not to spend more than half of your approximate after-tax income of $ 139,000 each year. Do that, and by the end of the 30-year period you'll have saved enough to get you by for another 20-30 years.

Yes, it is a nice idea. Pity that few will see it as such.

Oh, BTW -- Now that Powerball has cracked the "Billions and Billions" of Dollars Barrier, where's Dr. Carl Sagan when we really need him?

Thanx-A-Lot, Please Play Responsibly and Best of Luck to all - Frank0Sport16

That's a great song for this jackpot.

Keep rollin, rollin, rollin, rollin (What?)
Keep rollin, rollin, rollin, rollin (Come on)
Keep rollin, rollin, rollin, rollin (Yeah)
Keep rollin, rollin, rollin, rollin

Now I know yall be lovin' this [Jackpot] right here

1.3 Billion is right here

If an LP member finds him/herself among the winners on Wednesday, please remember how Todd busted his chops to keep us engaged, entertained and informed and make a healthy donation to LP Nation!

999 or 1BN if programmers can reprogram the boards.

After seeing $1.3 Billion show up on LP and USA Mega as $1300 Million, I have gone through and hopefully fixed everything to show "$1.3 Billion".

Please do me a favor and if you see any more "$1300 Million" please send me a PM to let me know.  (I may not see it if you post it in this thread.)

Thanks!

The Powerball billion dollar roll-over broke Lotterypost lol.

$1.3 Billion that's Michael Jordan money, and more than Tiger Woods which has always been my goal to have more than both.

What a trillion dollars looks like with double stacked pallets. Wow, I can find room for it don't worry lol. 7 packets wide by 16 packets deep, with each packet being $10,000. 7 x 16 = 112 packets per layer 112 x $10,000 = $1,120,000 per layer. Also shows several other examples of a million, billion, etc. 1 billion is 10 pallets lol. The little guy on the bottom left is an average sized person lol. A trillion dollars is a FARM of money lol. http://www.pagetutor.com/trillion/calculations.html

WOW!!!!! 

One billion dollars lol. Ten pallets of $100 million dollars, one layer is 7 packets wide by 16 packets deep, with each packet being $10,000. Would need a bank vault sized safe in your house if you wanted to cash it out lol.

Attaboy to MUSL for this accomplishment. They made a believer out of me. I didn't know they had it in them. There must be fireworks and champagne bursting at HQ all week long. What a milestone. Congratulations to MUSL. 

Sirbrad, sense you like looking at piles of money. Here you go:

I got the following as "lottery advice" emailed me today from a friend:

If Wednesday night you find you are holding the winning ticket - (before anyone finds out) - immediately call everyone you know.  Tell them you have an emergency and need to borrow $500.  They will likely all ignore you.  This will come in handy in a few weeks when they find out you won and will do 2 things for you.

1.  it will make it much harder for them to ask to borrow money from you &
2.  it will tell you who your real friends are so you can share with those in the 2nd column.

I'm hoping for one winning ticket and one winner.

Yeah it is but I was referring to this one lol. 

Want to take home One Billion dollars cash? The Cash Option sans taxes. (no, not the Annuity)

Well first you need to make the following assumptions:

You must pay 39.6% to the IRS as Federal Tax

You must pay taxes in your individual state if applicable. Lets go with the highest in the country according to LP which is 8.82% so we will calculate by that (thanks New York)

And lastly we will assume the most recent Cash Option percentage which is $806 million divided by the jackpot $1.3 Billion which is 62%.

You would need the jackpot to rollover to $3,126,993,459 and of course be the sole winner.

Your Cash Option would be $1,938,735,945 (the 62%)

and you will pay $767,739,434 in Federal Taxes and (the 39.6%)

assuming you're in New York you will pay the State of New York, $170,996,510 (the 8.82%)

leaving you the nice chunk of change of $1,000,000,000 also known as One Billion Dollars...... mind boggling.

I kind of feel that when the jackpot gets really high, like over $500 million, the second prize should go up also, at least three to five million dollars. 

I would probably drive around blasting this song after I won, which I already do anyway lol. 

The 3 states I follow/watch all have 3 different listings for the rollover jackpot!

Maryland has it correct as 1.3 billion.

New York is listing it as 999 million so it can't handle the billion - LOL!!!

Delaware is still showing 900 million, which is about right they are like the red headed stepchild of lottery's 

And if u lived in nyc, the jackpot would have to be even higher as we get taxed locally 3.876%

I love that idea. Will definitely try it should I ever come into money.

DELotteryPlyr, the jackpot is incalculable.

I screenshotted the NY website before they fix it later today so you all can see the magnificence of this jackpot. I enjoyed the "CHECK BACK SOON" sign the most.

I had 3 numbers and won only $21

Those who matched all 5 and missed the PB be like. Lol.

Do you think if their were one winner that they would be safe? Only everyone in America is after that jackpot. A lot of people are feeling pretty lucky and have ideas of how the jackpot should be spent. I'm sure with all the people spending so much money on the lottery, and walking away with nothing at the end, (but in debt) someone is bound to get angry and set out to take revenge. What do you think?
I pray anyone who is playing especially if they win will keep a level head and except how the luck had come to them or anyone else. I hope it is pleasant for everyone who is involved.
Be sure to get protection not only for you but all the people you love too. Get professional help to be able to handle all the new demands you have not known or thought of until you won. Get all your ducks in a row before you claim your prize.
I'm sure this moment will never end. Your name will instantly become a household name as soon as you are found out. People will always remember you no matter where you go, until you die. The news will keep tabs on you, and give regular updates, at least, whenever they are talking about billionaires. I'm not sure how you prepare for a moment like this but try your best. Get professional help and not from anyone you know. Don't promise anything to anyone yet. Good luck to all and have fun. I do hope it is a pleasant experience for everyone. Keep it safe and enjoyable.

HIGHER LOTTERY JACKPOTS=HIGHER LOTTERY SALES.

1-2-3-4-5 + 6 

Y2K revisited?

It is funny how 28 winners and none matched the PB number.  There were 3 here in Texas, different cities, all quick picks.  So, the game can produce multiple winners but slim chance it will duplicate 28 exact PB numbers.  I had a feeling for the #13, multiplied it and played it again, so I won $20.

Very nice note and I thank you!

I think that this has gotten out of control. I believe that this is going to not only ruin someone but make them a target for the rest of their lives by people who are greedy and ignorant and willing to hurt them. The powerball was wrong for doing this and are going to be responsible for hurting people's lives rather than make them better. This is not the way to hold a lottery that is why Europe does it the way they do it. The chance for many people to win and become millionaires rather than one person. It cannot keep going on this way. Where is it going to end. 2, 3 4 billion. 

Sam

01/10/16

The excitement is  still growing!

With all those tickets being sold, find it hard to believe that no one had the winning numbers:

16-19-32-34-57- 13.

Next Drawing  on January 13.

Maybe there will be one, some, or many winners in lottery pools, for  this huge Jackpot.

There were many winners in locations throughout the state of NJ with those lesser but still great prizes, as reported by the Lottery Commission for

the January 6 drawing.

AMEN deborahl!!! I totally agree. I pray to God that this remains a safe and pleasurable experience for ALL and that God puts a hedge of protection over the winner and her loved ones.

Yeah with the new levels of greed I can already hear people saying in the future "No I don't play PB unless it is a billion dollars or more, it just a measly $600 million right now."

 There will be a lot of prayers this Sunday, today. In churches you may hear,"Please, Please, Please Lord help me get the winning numbers for Wednesday's Power Ball!!!"

 I am concerned about a sole winner. At least, you have to be 18 years old to win it here in the States. Just ask Callie Rogers who lives in the UK how she did when she won two million pounds at the age of 16. Thank God she is married now with children and has turned her life around. 

 Good Luck to all LP Members and God Bless the United States of America. Plus the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and Washington D.C.!!!

When has America or anywhere else ever been 100% "safe"? I think for the most part people are just very self-centered and paranoid. Those who have issues are in the minority, you only hear about them because they are extreme cases and that is what makes news. All of those who won big that have had no issues are considered "boring" and not newsworthy. Nothing will stop me from living my dream. You can't let your "perceived fear" of what you "think" might happen stop you. Most who had problems were idiots to begin with, winning the lottery only made it all worse. If needed that kind of money can buy you a lot of security in many ways. After awhile though it will all die down and no one will care anymore. Just like it did with all the others. Most can't even name a past winner except one of the extreme bad cases such as Jack Whitaker. But even the general public does not even know him.

Anyone who is that worried and thinks that they cannot handle it, and that the world will then be after them 24/7 for the rest of their lives should not even bother playing. No one is going to force me to go into hiding. If you can't take the heat stay out of the lottery kitchen and let us who are prepared to live out our dreams play and win it. Or build yourself a "lottery bunker" and hide in it for the rest of your life. Doesn't sound like much fun though. Most of the "bad people" you need to worry about are family and friends, not strangers. Most have enough problems to worry about in their own life than tracking down a lottery winner. You might get a few here and there but again they are in the minority. But if you are like Jack and taking hundreds of thousands of dollars to a strip club then you are only asking for trouble. But the smart ones stay quiet and keep to themselves and have no issues. That is why all those big past winners are no longer in the news. They are "boring" and that is how they like it. Build a gun shop and live in it lol. But I am pretty sure you will get bored after awhile.

Out of control indeed. Personally, I'm leery of playing in this drawing. It's not the amount of money itself that's the issue, but rather the crush of publicity of winning a "world record" jackpot. Seemingly every "friend", family member, etc will come out of the woodwork seeking "help", so-called investment advisers offering their "advice", fending off outright scammers, and dealing with frivolous lawsuits. And then there's security and privacy to contend with.

Personally, Mega Millions is looking to be the better play right now in regards to maintaining normalcy and has slightly better odds too. Winning MM $15 million ($9 million cash) jackpot likely won't even get a mention on the scrolling ticker at the bottom of news channels. Sure, local news media might run a small blurb, but that's about it.

I was hoping to be that MM winner for total anonymity lol. No one cares about that measly $165 million winner lol.

I'm shocked. At the rate people were buying tickets I thought there would be multiple winners for last night.

So I guess I finally get a chance to be Oprah's friend after all!

Actually you are quite right. But its not just people in the USA you have to look out for , It's the total population of planet earth from other countries who will come after you!

Not only three digits, but here it is numerical, not like they could put up 1.3B.

ΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛV

→PB odds went from 1 in 175,223,510

to 1 in 292,201,338

or 66% higher which is why the jackpot has gone to Pluto.←

ΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛVΛΛV

Going to California's website with where the winning tickets were sold I see one was from that Primm lotto store.  WTG, probably someone from lottery free (stupid) Nevada.

how much did they win?

Says $779,264

584 milllion dollars and you could have bought every possible 1 in 292 million combinations and made a serious profit.

Surprised it didn't happen.

Just over $979K with that awful para-mutuel payout law they have; plus no Powerplay or Megaplier offered.

It doesn't happen because of a number of reasons. For one, that is a lot of money to spend and yeah you would get your money back but filling out the slips would be too much work and there would never be enough time to print out all those combinations. You only have a few days between each drawing to purchase tickets.

Assuming you have the money, how on earth do you buy every single combination and permutation?  I don't think you can order that from the 7-11 or any other place that sells Powerball tickets, right? 

I think it's funny to think that someone would fill out each of those papers where you color it in for your numbers for every combo and perm. That alone would take you forever. 

I'm thinking in theory yeah you're right but it's reality that counts.

Its happened before. With today's technology it could happen.

Group Invests $5 Million To Hedge Bets in Lottery

Published: February 25, 1992

Yes, but they didn't even have the time to print out the whole 7 million tickets. Powerball has 292.2 million possible combinations. That's a big difference.

"Only a lack of time prevented the group from buying tickets for the remaining 2 million combinations."

Anyone who has that kind of money would not spend that much on the lottery, they would be an idiot if they did. They would be rich already and not have to. Also hindsight is 20/20 how do they know there will not be multiple winners? If there was they would lose a lot of money. It is easy to say AFTER the drawing took place and there were no winners. I highly doubt anyone with that kind of money would blow it all on the PB hoping to be the sole winner as if you had that much money you would not need to. It would be very stupid to risk that kind of money. That is why you don't see billionaires doing it. Low income people are the people who play most. Also do you have any idea how long it would take to print out that many tickets for one person? A LOOOOONG time. Not to mention filling out all those tickets, you better have A LOT of elves working 24 hours a day between drawings and I doubt you would ever get them all played.

It would also look pretty silly at the store and you would need a bunch of boxes and a big truck to carry all those tickets, and angry people waiting in line being like WTF....I waited on an old lady playing a few hundred tickets and seemed like it took an eternity, imagine 292 million tickets. Not to mention how long it would take to look at 292 million tickets then. Are you REALLY that surprised it didn't happen??

That is a lot of money. But question, why do all the news outlets keep saying whoever wins will win a billion or so dollars when they're really not? I mean I could see if this was another country where lottery winnings aren't taxed, but here in the good ol US they take almost half. Does anyone know how much the approx take home really would be based on where the cash option is now?

The key phrase is "could happen" but it didn't as the odds worked against them although they definitely had a good chance.  I just wonder how the heck on earth do you fill out all those lottery entry forms.?  Then the clerk has to scan the lottery entry into the machine then issue you your ticket then repeat process over and over and over and over and over until time runs out. The first thing would be to play a game where they only do the drawing once a week so that gives you a solid week to fill out your lottery entries.  But then you would need a store that sells the particular lottery game's tickets 24 hours a day.  I recall buying Powerball tickets in Arizona and they only sold them only during certain hours of the day though things may have changed since then.  I guess you could fill out all those lottery entries using a machine but I thought that is not allowed under lottery rules?  I thought that was illegal but I could be wrong.  Assuming you could fill out the lottery entries using a machine then yeah I think you could fill out all of the millions of entries. By hand, I don't see that happening but then again if you have enough people and a week then maybe. Let's not forget having the millions of dollars to play in the first place.

It is almost a billion for the annuity after taxes. Every state has different taxes and some states don't tax the lottery such as mine which is PA and $975,000,002 AFTER taxes. They advertise the amount before taxes because that is the amount they pay before taxes come in and take their cut.

Yeah, and a lot of times the machine will not take the slip and spits it back out. Sometimes one slip can take 5 minutes. Can you imagine one clerk doing that all day with millions of bet slips? What about when the store closes, you would have to come back every day all day and you probably still would not make it. The thought of doing it is ludicrous on so many levels lol. Imagine your eyes after checking 292 million tickets lol. You would be seeing numbers in your head for months.

My sister in law is a bank teller, many cash advances on Friday....now what will these people do?

Lottery guru says go to usamega.com and follow to Powerball or Mega Millions and it has the tax breakdowns for the different states.

Around $500 million, after taking cash option and Federal tax, in Pennsylvania and other states / jurisdictions that don't also tax lottery winnings.

However, most states do tax winnings, such as New York, plus additional local taxes too for those in New York City. So the final amount can vary much as 20% depending on where one resides.

Try to get another cash advance for the next drawing? 

I only plan on buying 5 lines and calling it a day.

I, too, went to bed before the drawing to keep dreaming. I was seriously thinking it would have been won. oh well chubby Hawaiian man, you can still do it! 

I just hope thelotter goes online again some point i the next 3 days.

Otherwise I'll be here asking for someone to buy and send me a ticket, preferably from an anon state, reimbursed through PayPal and good Karma.

I had 20, but that cut into my 3 digit money....if I hit on the 3 digit I'll do the same.

It would take many days if not weeks to fill out that many bet slips, maybe months unless you had a lot of people doing it. Then it would take days to play them all even with a huge team playing them all over. Then you will have to split it with all those people unless they like working like fools for practically nothing to help you win a billion dollars which I doubt they would. So in the end it is just not worth. You would need like $60 million bet slips to play 5 rows lol. Good luck with that. Then if there are 5 winners you are REALLY screwed. If I had $600 millions or more already I would not even be thinking about spending that on the PB except maybe a few hundred dollars.

It shows the approx payout at time of winning, but doesn't take into account the additional 14%+ a winner will likely owe the IRS. Lottery winnings is generally taxed as income. Currently, the highest tax bracket is 39.6%, which is what a jackpot winner would near certainly need to pay unless they utilize various accounting maneuvers that may reduce that.

Yes, at the bottom of that page, this is explained, but not shown in the numbers, which is unfortunate leading one to believe the tax burden is far less than it really is. For example, in PA, the actual tax burden could be upwards of $100 million more leaving the winner, not with $600+ million, but rather a tad under $500 million when all is done.

$500 million or a billion is all the same to me I could care less. I would never spend it all anyway, and I could make most of it back with interest if I wanted to. However we are talking annuity value which pays around a billion over 30 years not the cash option. You could take the annuity and not have to worry about investing all that cash or where you are going to put it all, and you will have huge checks every year. I would be set after one year for life, the rest would be all gravy. Look at those numbers. Crazy! Or you could risk taking it all and investing. Also the jackpot is usually more than the amount shown once won.

something stinks

 did anyone see the ball picker for powerball ?  iT comes up from below   the ball doesn't get knocked off by other balls hitting it which tells me it is on a vacuum then The vacuum stick disappears below the bouncing balls (completely out of site)  with the money they have at there disposal how hard would it be to pull a magic trick.  not hard at all and they made it obvious.  to add insult to injury it is computer based what this means it gets the numbers first from quick picks, aunt patty's birthday numbers etc. Then with this obvious cheat machine can get the jack pot high to sucker in me:-( the saddest part is it can make sure in a nano second only one winner wins if it likes or the puppet master likes. a computer is a god among men! ran by a man.

but ya I am playing! the only chance for humanity

When has America or anywhere else ever been 100% "safe"? I think for the most part people are just very self-centered and paranoid. Those who have issues are in the minority, you only hear about them because they are extreme cases and that is what makes news. All of those who won big that have had no issues are considered "boring" and not newsworthy. Nothing will stop me from living my dream. You can't let your "perceived fear" of what you "think" might happen stop you....Anyone who is that worried and thinks that they cannot handle it, and that the world will then be after them 24/7 for the rest of their lives should not even bother playing. No one is going to force me to go into hiding. If you can't take the heat stay out of the lottery kitchen and let us who are prepared to live out our dreams play and win it. Or build yourself a "lottery bunker" and hide in it for the rest of your life. Doesn't sound like much fun though.
I may be wrong but are you saying that people shouldn't play just because they don't understand something?
My statement wasn't because I'm afraid. It is because some people don't comprehend the seriousness of the situation and will carelessly run around without thought of evil minds around them, be that family, friends, workers, or strangers. People have killed for a lot less. If your not aware then you cannot see the importance of protecting yourself. I mention it so hopefully a winner (maybe even a friend or family member) will come to this site and read this and think of something they may have not have thought of before. Perhaps it may make them a little more cautious. It may save a life or even change a life.
Are you one that would just go spend money carelessly, not aware of how desperate some people get especially if they precieve something bad has happened to them, and then they think it is because of you, "the lottery winner?"
Beware! Sometimes no matter how many warnings a person is given, they still don't realize or prepare for the dangers that are around them. Heck sometimes people just completely deny the issues or ignore them until it is painfully in their face. Some people feel as though they are invincible even though in reality they are less invincible because they missed a tiny (or major) detail.
Hey I say, spread the word! Help educate everyone who might not think things all the way through. After all your best thinking misinterpreted my message and you thought you were so right. Is it so far fetched to think someone might be so wildly excited about winning the lottery that they can't think straight enough to stay safe and even extend that safety to family and friends before it is too late?

You want to know the approximate amount you will take home based on the Cash Option now (just want to make sure we're on the same page)

First of all, you don't know if you are going to be the ONLY winner. With large jackpots (and sometimes but rarely smaller jackpots) there are multiple winners.  A good example would be Marie Holmes who was one of three winners of a jackpot over $500 million.

Next, you haven't provided enough information to get an the approximate amount you asked for.  Do you live in a state that has no lottery tax?  Some states tax you on your lottery winnings and others don't.  It varies from Zero to a state like New York where it's 8.82% (that's getting close to 10% of your Cash Option) Look at the left side of this webpage.  Look for USA MEGA, click on that then look at the bottom left under Powerball and click on Jackpot Analysis then scroll down to see what your tax rate is for your state.

Next you gotta pay Uncle Sam his due. 39.6% is his take. That's 39.6% of your Cash Option. Yeah it can be reduced somewhat but that all depends on whether you get help from your CPA who knows what you can and cannot do to reduce that amount. The lottery will automatically take out 25% BEFORE they transfer your money to your bank. You are responsible to pay Uncle Sam the remaining taxes due.  When you go to USA MEGA and look at the Jackpot Analysis for the Wednesday's drawing you will see that they figure out how much you will get based on taking out the 25%. Therefore that number you will get is incorrect.  You will end up with less.

The current Cash Option is $806 Million.  Assuming you are the only one who wins, do the math and you will see that you will walk with roughly half of that assuming you are the sole winner.  Makes sense because if you add 39.6 plus 8.82 you get almost 50%.  If you live in a state with no taxes then good for you!   $806M less 39.6% is $486.82M  For example: $806M times 8.82% is substantial, just over $71 million that goes to New York State. Use a spreadsheet program if you want to mess around with the numbers and do "What If" scenarios. 

Federal tax rate isn't 25%, but rather much as 39.6%. Depending on what account maneuvers the winner is able to take, the actual amount could be low as $800 million or so. Still a bundle of money, but $800 million paid over 30 years isn't overly compelling when compared to $500 million after tax lump-sum.

The main advantage of an annuity is reducing tax liability, but when the numbers are as large as those you posted, it makes no meaningful difference. Many feel it's best to take all the cash now than hoping inflation stays under control and tax rates don't change. And it's not just Federal rates one has to be concerned about, but also state and local taxes, which can change / be added. For example, for a brief time, New Hampshire enacted a 10% surtax on lottery winnings, which also applied to past winnings being paid out in annuities.

In short, the reward verses risk isn't worth it these days for annuity, and is why most large jackpot winners opt for the cash option straight away.

I had an email at 4am from my mom saying I want a Powerball with you. Aww :).  So I'll be buying some with her. I think everyone knows I play every week

When will people learn that the Federal Tax is NOT 25% when you're dealing with these large amounts.  sirbrad you gotta give Uncle Sam 39.6% but you could get that reduced somewhat assuming a number of things that your CPA (which you will easily be able to afford and you will most certainly need) can probably save you some percentage points but every person's situation varies.  So you may want to change your matrix of payouts to 39.6% rather than 25% because you will NOT receive 14.6% of what you think you will.  With huge numbers like that 14.6% becomes pretty significant.

Yes Ron5995, you are right on the money!  Thanks for pointing that out to those out there who are assuming incorrectly.  I'd hate to see someone win and then end up regretting making the wrong choice.

Looks I'm looking at $459,420,000 after taxes on Wednesday!

I am saying I have been well prepared for a long time, and even for those not well prepared the odds are slim that someone is going to come after them. There are far more successful stories and non-issues than there are destructive ones, the media only glorifies the bad ones. Most of those had problems long before the lottery. I also have never heard of anyone coming after a lottery winner from another country. The reality is that people on here think and worry about all stuff more than average people out there do. This site is hardcore lottery players, most are casual players. The people on here seen it all and focus on the bad stories when most people out there are not even aware of any of it. They move on with their lives and forget about it after a week. It is good to be prepared but it is stupid to become obsessed and over-paranoid and let it ruin your life. As I said you may as well not even play then if you are worried that every bad person will come out of the woodwork after you. Unless you are complete idiot who flaunts it every where they go chances are you will be fine. The world is not going to stop and hunt you down because you won the lottery. Not most of the time anyway if you are at least somewhat intelligent and know how to handle it.

Uncle Sam is the biggest crook in history, every time someone wins and beats the odds he steals 36% and didn't even have to pay a dime to play. I would love to see his bank account balance. I am guessing a few warehouses of double stacked pallets like this? (Trillion dollars)

Wouldn't be surprised if it reaches 2 billion by Wednesday. I'm ready for this hit already, lost all $60 no return at all...lol Now I'm only playing $20 unless it gets over $1.8 or 2 B then I'll fork down $100

That is the beauty of living in the USA, you have to put up with Uncle Sam!  For the most part living anywhere else is unthinkable. Do you have any idea how many people would give their left arm to live here? So many people want to live in the USA it's not even funny. Why? Because we have the lottery of course.....but really it's because our country is a free country compared to the crappy countries some people live in.  I have spoken to many people from all around the world and a lot of them would prefer to live here granted there are a lot of Europeans who think their country is the best in the world and it is if you don't mind the cold weather.  Yeah the Europeans have some things going for them and in fact I was reading that London is supposedly the number one country to live in.  Yeah that's way too cold for me. I like where I am and I like that although we get killed on taxes to some degree we still live in one of the greatest countries on the planet if not the best country.  When I compare the good to the bad the good far outweighs the bad. So hey every one is entitled to their opinion but if you feel that Uncle Sam is a crook that's cool with me. By the way, you gonna need a number of bank safes for all that money.

Thanks Todd for being there for us last night,  Lottery Post was the only site I was able to log onto to get the PB numbers.  I will have to try again though for Wednesdays drawing.  May the lucky winner be me or a family member!

HOLY SH$T!!!!!!!!

Everyone is cursed with "can't win"! LOL

Oh MY, Heh,heh,heh.

Yesterday someone told me that 65% of all the 292 million possible combinations had been sold. (I've no idea if that's accurate or not)

If it's true, that says that 35% of them were unsold.  Therefore last nites's combo came from the 35% of combinations that were not sold. 

Two things come to my mind;  Can they/will they sell more than 65% of the possible combo's for next Wednesday nights drawing, and with a 65% chance of a combo that was sold being drawn, I doubt the jackpot will not be won next Wednesday.  G5

Hopefully someone who wins this and if there is a sole winner is in a state that they can stay anonymous.

If you had any idea how the Halogen machine works, you would see that your post is obviously flawed. To start, the balls are mixed by a turntable at the bottom of the machine. The shaft does not contain a vacuum inside it - it has an opening the size of one ball. As soon as the shaft goes down, gravity pulls one, and only one, ball into the shaft. The shaft rises and extracts the ball from the machine by a small stick inside the machine. This process is repeated 5 times. Not even computers can control gravity.

Please understand physics before posting such baloney.

I know the disadvantages of the annuity but most lottery winners should choose it or lose it.  Unless you are a financial adviser or have your ducks in a row in the financial area, annuity should be your only option.  Doesn't matter if you are 90 years old and you claim the annuity.  Hell are you going to do with $400 million dallas tomorrow!  Most likely make bad investments, be paranoid and stressed about it (like Jay Z beyonce's husband), choose the wrong financial planner/adviser/lawyers, etc. etc. and dig yourself an early grave.  $14,000,000+ for your first payment is a lot of dough!  With the annuity your kids can claim the other payments for the next 29 years if you died next week.  Yeah, and it is a good thing they don't get to pocket your large lump sum after you die or most likely they'll blow it all quick.

OK, I guess I have to get serious now and win this thing.

Holy Moly Guacamole!

I went to sleep before the draw and just woke up. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT ROLLED!!!! My thread "Are you ready for the attention?" has just become reality!

Thank you for detailing the scenario on how to net a billion dollars through the lottery. I had mentioned a condensed version on a different thread.

That's why they say Play Responsibly. $2 is just a cheese burger.

Woke up @ midnight, called the Kentucky Lottery #'s line...'all circuits are busy'.  Tossed and turned and finally got through hours later.  Too cold in sunroom to fire up computer to 'read all about it'.  Just played it again as they say here same #'s, what the heck.

Bill Gates is worth about $76 Bil.

you are incorrect. At McDonald's you get 2 for $2.00

I like that! Thanks for posting.

You are right, I thought the same!!  Although they will be happy about $2M, some will be really reflecting on missing the jackpot. My sister never plays the lottery and thought she won thousands but "reflected" for days when she found out her 4 out of 5 numbers only paid a lousy $100, vs 5 out of 5 pays $2M. I told her "Welcome to my club when I miss my 3-digit tickets by one number." 

Sounds like good advice.  My Sister, who is too darn cheap to play the lottery told myself and older Brother years ago 'When you win the lottery you HAVE to give me some'.  If she says that again I'll say the only thing I have to do is stay white and die.

  That is great advice!!!  Couldn't do it on my Family, they might wonder what's up, but it would be great to use on people you "think" are your Friends.  What a SUPER idea!!!

Well, I won a total of $14.00,   spent $10.00 ,  Profit , $4.00.

Tha's all I"m playing back, since Missouri just had a $1 million dollar ticket sold.

But, Missouri is a top state for winning Powerball.

I"m in again.

Good Luck.

P.S. Last night's Powerball number (13) had not been drawn since, 2014!

Uh, no. You're still responsible for the decisions you make in life. If you're too concerned about your future well being as a billionaire, then don't play.

For those who have exhausted their cash advance limit the pawn shop may be their next option. Very sad what a jackpot this size will demonize a previously sane individual to commit.

It'll  be ironic. The US economy... 80%  bankrupt due to a lottery jackpot size.

1.3 Billion? 

Time for a short trip across the border.

I sure hope people aren't cashing out their 401Ks and IRAs trying to win this HUGE jackpot!

What else in this world would make majority spend $2.00-?????

Good Luck.

I put in $10 yesterday. I'll put $10 in for this one.

How does the tax liability apply to Canadians?  I understand no taxes are taken out of lottery win there, then again your country is way ahead of the USA in many ways, i.e. metric system, healthcare.  But not here to discuss politics, have a great trip across the border...where do you play?  New Hampshire or Maine???

Wow that is the most awesome thing I've read on this website thus far besides recently that the JP was going to be $1.3Billion.

Thanks! Can't wait to make those phone calls. Hahahahahaha

LPers are thinking ahead.

I have to say that I am not a CPA but I have done some research into the matter. This is what I have come up with.  Although Canadians don't pay taxes on lottery winnings, I would still by liable to pay US federal taxes on lottery winnings.

I've talked about this before, I don't think it's going to be possible. Huge public outcry and politicians may get involved. The winner(s) trying to stay anonymous after winning this jackpot could end up screwing things up for everyone trying to remain anonymous through law, trusts, and LLCs.

I equate a sucker to someone being gullible.  Playing a ticket or two, if the cash is available, is no different than going to a movie or going to a restaurant.  It's entertainment.  And for two bucks it is cheap entertainment in my opinion.  It has nothing to do with median household income.  I know of people making less pooling their quarters to buy one ticket.  Yes they know the unlikelihood of winning, but for twenty five cents they were able to put their a smile on their face for a few days.  I also know someone who caps out the income tax scale who played.  Does he expect to win, no.  Is he gullible, hence a 'sucker'?  Far from it.  IT'S ENTERTAINMENT!

Pinch me... 1.3 ... Really?

These next few day are going to be a wild ride...

here is my perception of the likely hood of the game being won. the odds being 292 million to 1 means if 292 million tickets are sold then there is a %67 chance  gets hit.  because a good chance there will be multiple repeat numbers. now just need to figure how much the jackpot goes up from 29 2 million ticket sold. to  say there is %100 chnace  ever is impossible. but 3x 292 or or 876million ticts sold in draw would be almost certin  it will get won but under stand this fact. the chance of it not getting won at 876 million tickets sold is much better than your personal chance of winning

You are hopeful for a sole winner in a state that can stay anonymous; I can be a sole winner in a state that can stay anonymous!    I graciously accept the privilege... and am humbled.

I'll be incredibly happy with the 2nd prize.

Exactamundo!

This from someone who posts numbers in maddog's challenge.

Sucker???

Really???

Where else can a person spend a measly $2 and have a chance at millions of dollars? Yes the odds are stratospheric. Well, that's why the jackpot has gotten to this amount.

You stayed up til after 2 in the morning to see the results and to insult PB players. I didn't even check my numbers until the football game was over, then went to bed at 11 (central time).

Sucker?? Yeah.

Somebody let me know it works with a proxy.

Come on 2nd prize.   1 million is all I need.

2nd Prize baby!  Yeah!

(what is my problem?  "2nd Prize" ?.  Get real. 2nd prize is only a million.
"yes, I know but . . . . . "
but nothing. when you go to get your tickets today, think big)

You wouldn't being saying that if you won!!

I can't believe it roll over! I now need to make that 2 hour trip again across the border. IT was a 1 hour 45 minutes slow walk in line before you got in the door. It was insane. The fun was just listening to people talk about what do if they get just a piece of this jackpot. Reality pass out cards in line offering to find you great location to hide if you win. Most interesting information is this. ALA. residents , there is a law on ALA. book, let just say a blue law. Since it is illegal to gamble in ALA. if you have a winning Lottery Ticket they can take all that money from you as illegal money, sorry to say it you could win it in Vegas it don't matter. So as long as this blue law is on the book. Ala can do what it did before give retailer & vendors  the license to sell or do something. Then 6 month later close them down. So the best thing to do for Ala. is to open accounts in the state you gamble in. GL.

LOL, when I read the first part I thought you were referring to the traffic.

RL

Imagine you won that jackpot , and the lottery commission told you , we couldn't pay it? There excuse would be it would good bleed our states dry and we would have to file for bankruptcy? What would you do?

The money is already collected from ticket sales and needs to only be consolidated to the winners state lottery comission. Prize money is not budget money.

In the grand scheme of things 1.3 billion is not even a drop in the bucket.  Maybe one day we will see a

multi-trillion dollar JP but until then I am not worried.  The state govs are the biggest winners anyway.

RL

By my estimates nearly 78% of combinations were sold.

We have officially entered the 99th percentile with this rollover. What that means is that on average, 99% of the time there is at least one winner in the current or prior drawings, based on cumulative tickets sold (note: not same probability as winner in this specific draw). I believe the jackpot will be hit Wednesday.

NOW ...... EVERYONE........... ALL Over the WORLD will be playing the Powerball! 

Not just peeps living in the Good Old USA.   So, even though it's an attractive amount.  I STILL will NOT play.   

 When everyone else goes one way, I go the other way.  Sometimes I watch the carnage. 

Question:  HOW did they know three draws ago that it would reach this point?  How did they know?   

I can't be sorry for not  "trusting of the system"

If you can't part with 2$ you shouldn't.

I think I read that $.80 cents of each ticket goes to payouts so the states are making $1.20 for each

ticket sold.  Since most players will not win anything, including the off shore purchases then the big

JP is bringing in a lot of money from all over the world.  A buyout, even if possible based on the time

it would take to secure all the tickets is not a good investment as the risk of multiple winners could

put them in the red.  $2.00 is chicken feed these days and I will buy another ticket so that I can be

part of the largest JP drawing ever.  The odds are so large that I ignore them and have no illusion

of winning but there is still that minuscule chance it could be me.  Have fun and don't take winning

to seriously.   

RL

Am i dreaming, please tell me , am i reading this right?

 Relax sit back with some  and enjoy the show. Good luck

Buyout? LOL

It would take over 10,000 five-board playslips to be processed every minute from Sunday until Wednesday to buyout Powerball.

This is why they changed the format. Money!  Record sales!

Think about this!  See below.  Not only did 28 tickets get all 5 right but not the powerball, but 451 tickets got 4+PB.  Now that is amazing if you think about that for a while!.  Numbers obtained from the Powerball site.

POWERBALL                     Winners  Power Play    Total
Jackpot (Match 5 + PB)     0             0                   0
Match 5                            25           3                   28
Match 4 + Powerball        396         55                 451

1,300,000,000.00 That's a lot of 

Green, and zeros. 

It would take spending one million

every day for the next 3.56 years to

go through that much money.  I would

have trouble making it though the first

week.

RL

Yeah, but the other side of the coin... few are going to buy a MM ticket for awhile @ 15M

And once this JP is won... lotto fever (increased sales) isn't going to happen until the JP nears 1 Billion again.  Remember when folks got excited when a JP hit 200 or 300 Million?

So they better be making billion $ jackpots regularly or players will see (again) another matrix change

Went to the store today at 7AM hoping to beat the rush and there were 3 people in line ahead of me. LOL

LOL

but then again, maybe not.  I forgot about taxes.

RL

My wife and daughters would put a serious dent on the money. They would be living at the mall.

hello lakerben!

I got my numbers already picked out.  Going to the store and cash a couple of tickets.

Howdy!

It's gonna hit $2 Billion by Wednesday!

With the jackpot this high and the odds of winning at 1- 292,000,000 you can buy every combination and you will win the jackpot plus $1,000,000 prizes 25 times

sure it will cost you roughly $589 million dollars but you will be a winner

A guy told me yesterday that if it rolled, he would be using his entire pay check for this one. Went into Publix Supermarket this morning around 9am to pick up some groceries and the lines were there. I thought it was just people checking tickets but EVERYONE had cash in one hand ready to buy. INSANE!!!...but cool. hahahaha

False advertising.. Not really a billion dollar jackpot when you're ending up with less after you win.

It's not false advertising.

If you buy a 99 cent drink at the store, with a sticker price 99 cents, are you going to cry about paying the .05% tax?

basically the same thing...

I think a better analogy would be if you went to pay for that .99 soft drink and they charged you $3 instead, saying "oh .99 was the price back in 1986"

I'm waiting for the $1 billion cash value. That's my sweet spot. That's what I really want to see.

Since we're in completely uncharted territory here, predictions are going to be hard but I see no reason why we won't get there. If it gets to a $1 billion cash value AFTER  taxes I might lose my mind.

It's not not taxes, it's the difference between the annuity value and the cash value that makes it false advertising. They should have to put the cash value along with the annuity value on all the signs when they post the jackpot value.  Almost no one takes the annuity, but that's all they advertise most places.

Quick Pick question... 

Is there a database of all possible winning number combinations, from which quickpick tickets are drawn?

Or, are quick pick numbers simply randomly generated at each terminal?

Quick picks are randomly generated at the terminal I believe.

I've always wondered if duplicate QP tickets can be generated... ie in the case of multiple winners, always thought multiple winners resulted from self picks

QP's are generated randomly at each lottery terminal.

I'm sticking my neck out saying this but such a scenario is not entirely impossible. I could definitely see a scenario whereby the population purchases fewer tickets after a large run up, thereby actually causing the JP to run successively higher, albeit at a slower pace, but with fewer chances of being won. Let's call this lottery fatigue. 

PS I hope I expressed my thoughts accurately.

LOL. Just went to the little c-store where I usually buy my tix, and.......I'm the only one there!

So, I'm good for Texas 2 Step tomorrow night, MM Tuesday night, Texas Lotto Wednesday night, and PB Wednesday night.

Can't believe it actually rolled but hey, why not be apart of history? I'm in!

Well folks, I think I will buy a 2.00 dollar today, 2.00 on Monday, 2.00 on Tuesday and a 2.00 dollar on Wednesday! 8.00 bucks will be enough for me. All QP too! California had a total of 2,267,503 winners and 6 of those was 5 numbers right! Florida had 1,494,110 and only one win for 5 numbers correct! New York had 1,394,328 winners last night! 3 of them had a match 5.. Now Texas had a total of 1,462,985 winners, and only one person to match 5 right! But the total winners from all 44 states that play the lottery was   18,315,365. Woweee!! Check it out, go to www.powerball.com and click on winner breakdown by lottery. Check out each state winners. Good Luck everyone! Have a nice Sunday!

This is how I feel right now.

I was thinking the same thing, but Saturday was a little crazy at my usual ticket stops... long lines, crabby clerks (can you blame them)

I'm loading up early

When I visit Stateline, Nevada always walk down the street to play lottery in California. They have no self service machines were I go.

Yesterday they showed that Primm, CA Lotto store with a three hour wait to get their tickets. 

In the background you could see a row of self service lottery machines with a bunch of scratchers.  My question for someone in California do the self service machines allow you to play MM & PB??  Not a soul was @ any of them.  Just curious, every other state I've played with those machines are multi-functional.

I'd sure hate to be a clerk @ that store!!

Played one ticket (stopped playing PB when it went to $2) but the frenzy was enuff to get into the mix, matched only two numbers, 16 and 57, no win.  Question is why does the MSM keep on comparing this massive PB jackpot with "El Gorda"?

I read that is not a true lottery, it is a raffle with many folks getting some good money.

On a side note, went to PB website to view a few states PB amount listed.  The website builders will be busy tomorrow updating their sites to fit in $1,300,000,000.00.  Some said 1300 million, two others 999 million, and some states were down altogether.

Ever hear of the state of Illinois? They didn't pay for a long time because of budget.

Texas had 3 second prize winners, 2 with powerplay. All qp.

FL signs LOL.....

That's because the comptroller couldn't release the fund. They still weren't state money.

Long time lurker, and figured I'd finally sign up.

It doesn't matter where you buy the ticket (except for one group of people). 

Your state is getting the cut no matter what (unless you have no income tax at all or no tax on lottery winnings). Going to a no tax state to buy your ticket will not protect you from having to pay income tax on your state's taxes.

The only people that should worry about which state they buy their tickets are those people living in no tax states. 

Don't be the person that lives in a no-tax state that buys it in a tax state. As you will owe the taxes in the state you purchased the ticket as it will be income you earned in that state.

Thanks! I missed that!

$1.3B???

That's like buying 1,300 One Million Dollar Mansions...

That's like having 1,300 One Million Dollar Bills...

That is what they want to...all QUICK PICS...that really has no chance to win unless lightening strikes...that creates millions and millions and millions of dollars worth of sales

WHEN DOES IT BECOME A CRIME for MUSL to increase the ticket sales to 2 $...add an unholy amount of numbers to the set that does actually cover just about every man woman and child in the U.S...population 330 million..powerball set is what 290 million combinations

NOW IF YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT every person playing in the U.S it is more than the POPULATION of the U.S. because only adults can play...

YOU SAW THE GRAPH since POWERBALL CHANGED THE MATRIX of numbers...all jackpots has been going up and up and up ...

NOW THIS IS THE TRUTH RIGHT HERE...higher ticket sales = more MONEY...more combinations in the set = MORE MONEY...more combinations in the set = HIGHER JACKPOTS....PRETEST DRAWS AND POST TEST DRAWS = you lose and more quick pics sold which = MORE MONEY!!!!!

WHEN DOES A DREAM OF WINNING RICHES OUT RANK STEALING ON A COLOSSAL SCALE...if I  meet an untimely departure from this planet you will know why...

I am the only one on this Planet that could go into the FBI'S OFFICE and then go in front of a FEDERAL JUDGE and prove to them beyond any shadow of doubt that this is TAMPERING, MANIPULATION  AND STEALING!!!!!

So Ben, how many tickets you gonna get?

QP have always outsold self picks. Personally I play QP sometimes, and sometimes I pick my numbers. Sometimes I use LP ' s RNG.

So I'm curious. If you are the only one on  the planet that can prove it's tampering, manipulation,and stealing, beyond any shadow of doubt, what's stopping you? If it's money, then you need to win PB or MM jackpot?

Even if it was humanly realistic to purchase every combination, which it isn't, it is a very foolish endeavor.  If just ONE OTHER TICKET wins, then you lose BIG on the investment.

how can i buy a ticket online?

On <snip> or lottosend.com . They are unofficial courier services. They buy tickets or you and scan them. I make no guarantees for their trustworthiness. also they might be closed due to high demand.

i was told by a pychic i would win 1billion in a lottery,i said yeah sure,no lotteries ever go that high,so tell me how do i buy a ticket online?if i win ill give you 10million

 me also!

focus people , how do i buy a ticket online?

The lotter. The websites has been down today.

Unless  you go with their competitor. Make sure read the review of their competitor. If it legit.

Texas sign, look at little MegaMillions lol

LMAO why is the site that advertises here SPAM?

Aw, that's sad. Bless his heart.

No one said those were "final" deductions but it is close enough. Also you get more usually in the end than advertised and if you wanted you could earn way more with interest to cover the taxes. But would you really HAVE to? No. If you are focusing on taxes in this case you are simply a pessimistic thinker who shouldn't be playing. I am focusing on the ENORMOUS amount left after taxes which will still be WAY more than anyone else ever won and more than most have. Honestly with this amount of money I don't give a crap because I would still have over half a billions dollars net in the end. Whatever taxes they take I would never touch anyway, I would never even touch 99% of the  principle. I will gladly pay those taxes on this amount. I could also invest in tax free Government bonds to cover the taxes which would not even be necessary. I will still have several hundred million cleared. I would be set for life after the first payment and am very well prepared.

Get a signwriter to tag a "1" to the left hand side of the numbers.

You file your claim anyway.  That gives a priority right in proceedings.  However, considering Powerball is made up of 44 states, if it would come to such a drastic action as all states failing at the same time, there is much more going on in the world.  Just curl up in the fetal position and wait.

Geesh! 

Whoever wins can't spend it in their lifetime, like I said yesterday... generational wealth.  I am also happy for the 28 people who won 1 million matching 5 numbers.

Kudos, my thoughts exactly except that I'm going with cash option.

One Ticket

One Winner

I won't lie I bought a $4 QP from a self service machine at Jay C. I said I'm getting in on this $1.3 billion today! lol 

Not only funny, also certainly a valid possibility of being true!

Watch me!

I don't think touching the principal is a bad thing, can't take it with you. Just don't run out before you bite it.

Don't you mean;

(Thanks for supporting my win!)

I've never been to Primm so I don't know about that store specifically. Generally the older machines are either draw games or scratchers. Normally there's one machine of each type right next to each other. The new machines do both. The new machines also let you confirm your picks for draw games, the old ones just print after you input the last mega. I always use the new machine since that one time I hit the 09 when I wanted the 08.

Nah there is a guy hidden inside and he is placing the unplayed balls on the stick from underneath.

Thanks for the response. Although, the MSM keeps on equating "El Gordo" with the PB.   Hopefully, Todd can send out "FYI's" to various media outlets to let them know the difference. 

Anyway, my concern with the PB, is not  the change of algorithm by increasing the numbers to select (from 1-69) and the PB (01-25) but was on the increase on the play amount $2.00 to be in the game.  The two dollar bill was never a hit, when it was originally instituted by the Feds.   I think that it is much more exciting to note that one hit 1.3 billion on a one dollar bill.  This is why the mega millions still appeals to me to play once in awhile.  Two dollars, I think is too much unless it is all or nothing where the odds are one matches or does not match.  That is much more fair. 

Still think that I have better chances/odds in winning Cash 5; P4 or P3  on the local level --amount will not be the same as 1.3 billion.   So where does that leave one?  Join in the frenzy knowing the odds, just because, or hold that $2.00 for a chance at two tickets on the mega millions?

Sirbrad, you have just disclosed confidential information vital to the entire operation of MUSL.  You need to come with us please.  Don't bother to grab your coat...

................................................................... 

I hope someone wins this jackpot.

Hopefully, it will be me on Wednesday!  Will remember you!

Its true...

Thank you for visiting theLotter!

Due to the high demand for the U.S. Powerball, the service is temporarily unavailable in your country. We encourage you to check back in a couple of hours in order to get your ticket for the biggest lottery jackpot in history.
We apologise for the inconvenience and wish you lots of luck!

Note: I am in the USA lol!

Welcome to the LP family!

On a serious note, I would like to see underneath….

Read what you are typing. It doesn't matter what the MUSL does. You don't have to play.

Yep, that is what I am doing...what say you?  $1.3billion is a staggering amount. 

BuyLow, you are undermining the confidence of the public in general and are jeopardizing the entire operation of MUSL.  You need to come with us please.  Don't bother to grab your coat...

................................................................... 

Thank your lucky stars that the top tax rate is just under 40% Federally. If a guy like Bernie Sanders became President, he'd try to move that rate as close to 90% as possible. That's one of the reasons you take the cash option. America is almost at 20 Trillion in debt. The future for America will be higher taxes...

I believe I am an unspecified person.  That would make me someone.  I hope your hope for me as someone comes true too!  It is truly appreciated.   

   It seems like many LP'ers don't recognize the income tax rate was that high at one period in time, and can easily return there.  CASH option, if only because of the uncertainty of politics!

Yup,and with just one other winner for the grand prize, you'd be in the red. Two other winners and you'd take a major loss.

At the Wawa where I buy tickets, there was no line and seemingly little interest this afternoon. The machine was just there, being mostly ignored as usual. Bought one ticket with Powerplay, plus one PA Treasure Hunt ticket ($100K jackpot, which is high for that game).

Crazy as it seems, Powerball could roll again. While it's world record breaking, most who played last time likely won't wager more than previously (many already blew their extra funds; maxed out their cash advance lines, etc). Also, the number of casual players may be about the same, since most who rarely play the lottery already participated in the last round. Result being sales may end up being about the same, or even a tad less.

$1.3 billion is still a solid estimate and it may grow to $1.4 billion or so, but unless the final estimate far exceeds that, figure on a good chance of a rollover again!

I'm already envisioning Saturday's draw at $2 billion annuity. That would be insane - a $1 billion jump in a week. Crazy stuff.

When Powerball does finally reset, they're going to have a heck of a time moving tickets. $40 million seems so small compared to billions. Perception and dreams is what drives sales, not reality.

Ditto what others have posted - matrix change is highly likely for MM and/or PB in the near future. Many players will now expect billion dollar jackpots, and hence the odds will need to catch up to match. 1 in ~292 million won't cut it. 1 in a billion for a billion is more like it. Not sure how long that will keep players playing though. As the jackpots get ever larger, the law of diminishing returns will eventually flatten sales...

The average player isn't going to shell out $10 or whatever twice a week for a 1 in a billion chance to win. Smart lotteries have already planned ahead and are increasing focus on in-state and regional games along with instant tickets; improving odds of winning lower, decent amounts verses touting another world record jackpot.

Rambling on, but bottom line is a roll over seems relatively likely. Get ready for $2 billion.

If there is no ticket that matches the 6 balls on Wednesday, what will PB do? Reduce the cost of play, or  keep it rolling to drive the country into a temporary grip of lottery fever?  Would this action pare us from tuning into the 2016 Prez candidates  for the month of Jan?  What about the superbowl- playoffs--put that underneath the radar; not to forget all those folks with their 2016 resolutions of losing weight/stop smoking/be healthy/be in psychic contact with the self etc..Will they all be on hold for the PB?   

yes

No.  Maybe.  Possibly.  Without a doubt.

I am sure someone has posted something similar to this. But don't have time to read them all.

There was "One" Jackpot winner so far from the new matrix since October 2015.

These large Jackpots will be available possibly 3 to 5 times each year if they keep it this way.

Don't get too discouraged if you don't hit it big, there will be many more like this in 2016.

But good luck to all that are trying. Watch your wallet too! That is a very important thing nowadays.

Estimated 48% in taxes total for Ohio if you take the "Cash Value". That's okay with me though.

But, Remember there will be more chances down the road.

Time for me to eat my words.  I said no way would Powerball ever get to a billion.

I was wr .....  wrrr.... wroo...... wro.....wronnn...... I was WRONG.  That was harder than I thought lol.

I am also very surprised, as I guess most are that it was not won last nite.  Gives us all another chance.  Ok, on to dreaming of what I will do with this tremendous amount of money.

Good Luck everybody.

No lejardin, you are not spinning it properly.  What you meant when you said the Powerball would not ever get to a billion was the actual cash value, and you still stand by that projection... until it happens, then you spin it again and state you were referring to the after tax value!  This should cover you for quite some time, while remaining correct in your statement.

I'm certain Mega Millions will change their matrix now. Even with their most recent matrix change, MM never gets high enough.

the coparisn   t l gordoo is people will buy tickcet all year long and once a yeear there will be 1 big winner

Thank you.  That was a very good response.  Since this is a statistical game of probability that entails what if's".  One can assume that many in the country are dreaming of what would they do if they matched all 6 balls and  won?  The MSM is definitely on board, fuelling the excitment of winning 1.3 billion, in a gamble for an individual's future; the county for at least 4 days will be paralysed with lottery fever, for those who are prone to volunteer their $2.00   Isn't this the embodiment of capitalism?    We should be so lucky to enjoy this air of freedom to dream about money.  Afte the fact, the majority of us will be at work on Thursday, dealing with the doldrums of daily existence and those expenses.  But for a few days, many will be in the stratsophere of the "force is with you"...so to paraphrase that iconic movie; which I shall not see. 

Okay hit me with the best that you've got.

~s

LOL I can always count on my pal to bail me out.  Very good, thank you for helping me save face hahahahahahahahaha.  Good Luck to us on the next draw!

I do not think they will sale enough tickets by WED to get the annuity up to 2 billion. For it to get that high it would need a cash value of around 1.24 billion. The cash value ended up being about 589 million last night and they had total sales for last nights drawing ending up around 880 million. My math may be wrong here but for the cash value to increase 635 million i think it would take 2 billion in ticket sales for this to happen. I know ticket sales will be very high but do not think they will total 2 billion. I am guessing some people who spent way more then they should have might be unable to spend what they did the last 3 days.

Thursday is going to be a tough day back to work for 99.9999999% of us.

Stratospheric for just a one or a few...

We'll at least have MM jackpot of 20MM to look forward to on Friday 

I concur.  If the cashpayout is $1billion--you've wiggle room.

LOL--that is so true! Thanks.

what does the jackpot need to be for a cash payout of 1 billion after tax? and how many rolls?

 A little more than $2.67 billion, based on the current ratio and assuming Federal only.

Would probably take 3-4 more rolls.

Thank you! Let's aim for that!

Well, I estimate the odds of the jackpot reaching that point around 1 in 4155. So we would have to repeat this frenzy 4 times a year for more than a 1000 years to be confident of hitting that. We are more likely to have the cash hit $1 B but after taxes.....not so much.

it should be possible though, considering that this one actually hasn't rolled over that much

One question:  what would happen if one person won and did not claim the prize, let's say they lost the ticket or died? 

Would each state keep their share of the Jackpot  be based on the number of tickets each state sold?

Just asking...

Right, but it would require more than 2.43 billion tickets to be sold....a lambda value more than 8 (which represents the number of expected winners by this roll). We would be in the 99.98th percentile. Fine to dream about but not likely

If the jackpot is not claimed then the funds are returned to the states, divvied based on their contribution to the pot.

If it's not claimed it's most likely a newbie who bought it past the cut-off time for last night's drawing and threw it away thinking it was a loser.  That would be sad!  I've never heard of the lottery putting it back in the pot or giving players any bonuses.  They usually just absorb it into the state budget for other crap.

dont worry just live like a prince instead of a king for a few years , you'll end up with $1 bill cash

Yes, they do.  I often buy my tickets at the Safeway grocery store in my area.  They have machines for scratchers, Powerball, MegaMillion, and SuperLotto.  You buy them yourself without the assistance of a clerk.  Railey's is another grocery store that also has the machines.

They'd probably bury it in Area 51 with the UFOs. 

so the pb was 13 - and now the jackpot is up to 1.3B - and the next draw is on the 13th.  So... maybe PB is trying to tell us that there will be a winner (or maybe 13?) on the Wednesday 13th?

or the world is going to get hit by the sun and moon and explode, resulting in the death of everything on this planet (including the 1.3B)

• The Last Supper: At Jesus Christ's last supper, there were thirteen people around the table, counting Christ and the twelve apostles. Some believe this is unlucky because one of those thirteen, Judas Iscariot, was the betrayer of Jesus Christ.

Please excuse my ignorance, but I have a question about taxes that are 'held' by states.  I don't know where else to post this question, so I am just going to ask it here.  It is my understanding that the taxes held are 25% for Federal taxes and what ever your states income tax rate is, if there are state income taxes.  Now, if I live in Florida, which has no state income taxes, but I bought the ticket in Georgia, which does have state income taxes, and a miracle happens and I win the Jackpot, will Georgia hold 6% of my winnings?  If so, and I am not a resident of Georgia, how can they hold 6% of my prize?  Can Georgia (or any state that taxes lottery winnings) say that they are entitled to part of the winnings just because I bought a ticket there?  Wouldn't that actually be a sort of "Windfall" tax and not an "Income" tax?

yep, where you BOUGHT it not where you live. So you better buy that Florida ticket

sonnet said, "......Isn't this the embodiment of capitalism?    We should be so lucky to enjoy this air of freedom to dream about money..."

YES!  The real lottery that many have already won is just living in this great country!

yes if you live in FL but you buy the ticket in GA you have to redeem it in GA which includes all of GA taxes

Yeah you will be subject to paying 6% (GA Lottery Tax) of the Cash Option should you be lucky enough to hit it.

So if you're the sole winner of the $806 Cash Option then you will hand over a massive $48,360,000 to the State Of Georgia.

Assuming you knew for sure you were going to win all by yourself then it's well worth catching a plane back to your home state to save yourself a small fortune. 

Heck even if you have to split that with another winner you'd still owe over $24 Million to GA.  I'd go with the "fly home" option if you're feeling like you're going to beat those 292,000,000 to 1 odds.

Lots of people over the age of 80 have won the lottery in the past.

Oh, lejardin! You are sooo funny!

I had the feeling all week that the Jackpot was going to reach $1Billion! However, by the time of the drawing, I began to feel a bit foolish. Everyone kept saying how it would not rollover and, that there would be multiple winners.

I crashed at Todd's place (I hung out on Lottery Post), until Todd gave the official word that there were no winners in last night's drawing and, that the estimated annuity Jackpot is now at $1.3 Billion!

DARE TO DREAM!

Good Luck!

totally possible!

Some states have reciprocity agreements with each other with regards to taxes, where as if you work in one state and live in another you'll get a credit for taxes paid to another state. Not sure if George and Florida have that being Florida has no income tax, but wherever you buy the ticket that states going to withhold the taxes because its income earned in that state. And if I buy the tickets in Florida with no income tax my home state is going to want a piece of it because it earned income.

19-21-30-61-64 + 14
09-20-28-47-56 + 20
02-16-28-31-42 + 23
20-28-29-40-51 + 07
18-27-38-39-42 + 21
13-24-55-60-66 + 09
02-31-43-57-62 + 18
18-21-33-35-58 + 05
05-41-53-54-61 + 11
12-29-36-51-64 + 14
10-59-62-65-69 + 04
11-20-32-37-50 + 12
04-09-34-61-63 + 21
12-26-34-44-62 + 10
31-50-55-59-62 + 16
04-13-23-62-68 + 06
01-22-46-58-61 + 06
04-22-42-47-67 + 11
19-24-30-33-67 + 09
21-25-56-60-68 + 05
07-36-55-60-65 + 11
04-15-45-56-67 + 18
14-33-35-44-65 + 13
07-14-21-33-37 + 22
21-22-61-65-68 + 22
07-11-30-33-48 + 21
24-32-35-50-55 + 16
34-38-57-64-65 + 01
16-26-45-52-53 + 01
20-27-51-67-69 + 10
05-19-30-35-62 + 26
23-27-51-62-63 + 21
16-50-51-67-69 + 18
42-43-52-56-66 + 12
04-22-53-62-69 + 10
04-10-19-24-56 + 17
02-33-55-60-66 + 26
07-12-13-51-64 + 20
05-30-35-36-58 + 17
02-03-13-52-56 + 19
19-22-35-41-56 + 09
05-07-19-24-35 + 11
03-16-62-68-69 + 11
18-25-27-38-69 + 07
35-48-53-58-63 + 08
03-10-17-50-53 + 14
20-39-51-54-64 + 02
33-37-48-51-63 + 15
08-28-41-68-69 + 02
08-17-21-25-54 + 22

GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY 

Mr./Ms. Thrifty,

Are those all the numbers you played for this Wednesday?

Mr. Groppo

Good observation, Mr./Ms. Maximumfun,

I shall keep that in mind.

Yes, and that's sad.
Just thinking about what people may have done, which will negatively affect their credit scores.

TO ALL SUCH FOLKS OUT THERE:

Please, relax. If you've spent too much, just relax for a day or two.  It will blow over.

Do NOT allow the Satanic idea of suicide to overwhelm you.
Is your life not worth more than a measly billion dollars?